bichardson



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

J. RICHARDSON. LEAK STOPPER PoR SHIPS, fsw.

No. 385,572. Patented July 3, 1888.

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WIJ W'ESSES N. PETERS. Phum-Lnhugmphcr, washington. D;C.

(No Model.) v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. RICHARDSON.

LBAK STOPPBR POR SHI-Ps, am.

Patented July 3, 1888 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH RICHARDSON, OF NORTH SHIELDS, `COUNTIT OF NORTHDMBER- LAND, ENGLAND.

LEIAKnSTOPPER FOR SHIPS, dac.

SPECIFICATION forming part oi' Letters Patent No. 385,572, dated July 3, 1888.

Application filed Octobcrl, 1887. Serial No. $351,964.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH RICHARDSON, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at North Shields, in the county of Northumberland, Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, have invented new and useful Appliances for Stopping Holes made by Collision or other Causes in Ships or Similar Vessels, (for which I have obtained a patent in the Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, No. 4,549, dated September 24,1S83,)of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to the construction and mode of application of a flexible pad7 or sheet alone or with a protecting-shield 7 for the purpose of stopping leaks in ships or ves sels, and the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, will explain the construction of the pad and of the protecting-shield and the mode of applying them.

Figure lis a plan of the back of the pad or sheet unrolled, and Fig. 2 is a side view of same. Fig. 3 is a plan of the back of the protecting-shield unrolled, and Fig. 4 is a side sectional View Vof same. Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 show the inode of application of the pad and shield to various portions of a ship to cover holes made by collision orother causes.

The same letters refer to similar parts on all the gures.

In the drawings, Figs. l and 2 show t-he pad A unrolled, as it appears when in contact with side of ship, looking on back, on which the half-tubes T are riveted, the projecting border B preferably of moleskin cloth, which adapts itself to any inequalities of skin of ship round the hole. At the top the guiding and securing guy-ropes C and D are shown, and at bottom the tail-rope7 E, to be carried by a messenger,7 F, under the keel and secured at opposite side of ship.

Figs. 3 and et show the shield G unrolled, as it appears when applied over the pad A, looking on back, with guy-ropes D at top and tail-ropes E at bottom, the former being made fast to bulwarks and the latter taken round the ship by a messenger and made fast at opposite side. These ropes are attached to eye- (Nc model.) Patented in England September 2l, 1883, No. 4,549.

lets formed at corners by the rope which binds the canvas of the shield, and additional guy or stay ropes D are attached at intermediate points to further secure the shield. Through each of the transverse channel-bars H, at each end,a hooked stud,J, projects for the purpose of receiving and keeping in position the bindingropes, which are passed over the shield and round the ship for further securing the shield permanently.

Fig. 5 shows a perspective sectional View of a ships side cut into by collision from the bulwarks downward, with the pad A handled by two sailors ready for unrolling, which is effected by a slipline, K, (which fastcns the strap 11,) being pulled, when the weight ofthe pad at once unrolls it, the slip-line being held by one of the hands, as shown.

Fig. G shows the pad A completely unrollcd, and thei top guy-r0pes, C and D, being made fast to bulwark. The hole is now covered by the pad, the flexibility of which causesit to be pressed against the ship round the hole, and any very serious in rush of water is stopped. Vhile this has been in progress a messengerline, F, has been passed over bow of ship and worked aft, and is now ready to be attached to the.tailrope E and to carry it round ship to be secured. The shield G is now applied by passingthe top corner-ropes, D, of the pad through each of the eyelet-loops of the shield before it is unrolled, by which means it unn rolls so that the cross channel-bars H come in between the transverse half-tubes T on back of pad.

Fig. 7 shows both pad andshield in position over hole, and both completely secured by guy-ropes to bulwarks, tail-ropes from pad, and shield round ship, when, if required, binding ropes N from bulwark over shield (guided by hook-studslmaybe taken round y the ship to opposite side and there secured.

Fig. S shows the pad and shield lined over a hole made in or near the bilge of ship by a reef or other hidden danger.

Fig. 9 shows the pad and shield applied to stop a hole made in stern7 of ship by eollision. In this case the pad and shield are both kept in position vertically by a rope, M, over stern of ship, the top and bottom ropes being taken away well aft and made fast to bulwarks at each side.

In cases of vessels stranded or sunk, and to be floated, the pad can be easily applied over the fractured part and secured in position when the water can be pumped out.

I anaware that prior to my invention leaks have been stopped by drawing over them and securing tarpaulins, sails, or matting, and I make no claim for such applications; but

What I claim,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In appliances for stopping leaks in ships or similar vessels, a sheet-pad of one or more plies of canvas or other strong` and flexible material, with a border-piece ol' moleskin cloth or similar soft and vdurable material, with strengthening` transverse bars, and furnished with ropes to guide the pad into position and secure it, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with a sheet-pad,as above described, a protecting-shield of one or more plies of canvas or other Woven material bound round sides and ends with rope, strengthened by transverse bars, and furnished With ropes to guide the shield over the back ol" pad and secure it, substantially as set forth.

JOSEPH RICHARDSON.

Witnesses: v

Gno. S. II. SWAN, JAsPnR RIoHAnDsoN. 

